Rio Tinto's Copper Segment Becomes Primary Growth Engine

Rio Tinto's copper segment has emerged as a major growth driver for the company, accounting for approximately 36% of its first-half underlying EBITDA in 2026.

This shift reflects both volume growth and price appreciation across copper and aluminium simultaneously, with the average realised copper price surging by around 35% to 591 US cents per pound.

The company's interim 2026 underlying net profit after tax reached USD 6.9 billion, a 43% increase on the prior corresponding period, driven primarily by strong copper equivalent production and sharper cost discipline.